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Major incident declared as sinkhole drains canal and swallows narrowboats
A landslip caused a 50-meter canal breach in Whitchurch, prompting a multi-agency response and rescuing over 10 people from stranded narrowboats, officials said.
- On Monday, December 22, 2025, West Mercia Police declared a major incident after reports of a sinkhole affecting a canal in the Chemistry area of Whitchurch, Shropshire, and emergency services set up a multi-agency response coordinated by the Shropshire Tactical Co-ordination Group.
- A canal landslip reportedly caused a sinkhole draining a canal section, catching three boats in a 50 metres by 50 metres collapse, with two narrowboats sitting on the canal bed.
- Fire crews rescued 10 people from boats on the Shropshire Union Canal while approximately 12 residents from moored boats were relocated to the former Whitchurch Police Station welfare centre, as firefighters established safety sectors and mitigated water flow.
- A major incident was declared at 5.17am and, as of 8.30am, the situation was stable with reduced water flow and no search activity; an emergency closure remains between Lock 6 Grindley Locks and Bridge 31A, Whitchurch By-Pass bridge.
- The Canal & River Trust has put an alert on its website, and images show a drained canal section with boats on the bed, as residents report drones and police since around 5am.
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36 Articles
Several ships got into trouble due to a "sinkhole" that formed on the Shropshire canal.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources36
Leaning Left7Leaning Right4Center19Last UpdatedBias Distribution63% Center
Bias Distribution
- 63% of the sources are Center
63% Center
L 23%
C 63%
14%
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